Hello! As an educator in today's world, safety has become number one. If our class isn't safe, they can't learn. The walkies you provided, give me a sense of safety that not all teachers in this building have. Week 1 we all participated in a practice lock-down. This is to prepare us and students for events like the tragedy of Sandy Hook Elementary, while we hope it never happens here. As I stood huddled in a corner with a group of first graders, practicing silence, I knew my new walkies were at my finger tips. If my class needs help, I will be able to call for it. If we are trapped, or stuck, or scared, we will be able to reach the world without having to open that door. The students also know where they are and how to use them. No matter what, we will not be alone. I don't know how to begin to thank you for that. Of course, chances are we will never use them in that capacity, but its still nice to know they are there. Now, enough of that and onto how we ARE using them!!!
As we began a new year, it took us a little bit of time to get to this unit and the activities that go with it! I saved the surprise of the walkies until it was time. The kids were sooo excited to see that we had walkie talkies and that they would get to use them! I heard many things like "Now we will get to see what the soldiers had to do" or "Will we REALLY get to use them?" and "This is going to make me really understand!" Those who don't get verbally loud, got quiet and just looked at them in awe.
Most of my students had never seen one in person, let alone held or got to use one as these are "expensive toys" that their families couldn't afford to own, so the hands-on technology alone was an opportunity for these children! In class they are learning about various codes, how to encipher, decipher, and how radios and codes were used to win WWII ,specifically by the Navajos, aka: the Code Talkers. Students have just begun to use the walkies you all sent us, and has already impacted learning through motivation, excitement, and real-life experiences! They are exploring the walkies and learning about their use. Using critical thinking to problem solve and come up with solutions of how to make their correspondence successful! They are LOVING hiding in a corner, behind a door, or under a desk and sending secret codes to partners, or small groups! The kids in this class have found, or restarted their love of learning, even when its hard, or frustrating, or isn't on a modern day computer. They have also found a true appreciation for our past, our soldiers ,and the difficulties faced. To quote one male student "Man, this is hard! And they had to do it and hope they didn't get shot!" His classmates overwhelmingly agreed. As an educator of gifted children, who often find things come too easy or think they should automatically know how to do something or find an answer, this lesson was one I found invaluable and know it will serve them throughout their education, and in their lives! It is not something I can easily teach, it is not found in a text book, students can't even Google it. It was a gift from all of you.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cowles